Low Temperature Waste Heat Electric Generator [Archive]

JoeReal

11-21-2008, 12:11 AM

This could revolutionize the industry if true. Current Waste Heat generators only operate if waste heat is 150 deg C and above, but this new one, can extract energy if waste heat temperature is between 65 deg C to 150 deg C!

Electricity from Waste Heat

Ener-G-Rotors' system harvests energy at lower temperatures.

By Jennifer Kho
actories, data centers, power plants--even your clothes dryer--throw off waste heat that could be a useful source of energy. But most existing heat-harvesting technologies are efficient only at temperatures above 150 °C, and much waste heat just isn't that hot. Now Ener-G-Rotors, based in Schenectady, NY, is developing technology that can use heat between 65 and 150 °C.

The company replaces the turbine in a typical electrical generator with a device called a gerotor, which it claims to have made "near frictionless." "If this works, it's so huge," says Bob Bechtold, president of Harbec Plastics, one of Ener-G-Rotors' potential customers. "I've been dreaming about the concept of using [low-temperature waste heat] ever since I first knew what it was about . . . It's all about using what we have more completely."

Complete article:
http://www.technologyreview.com/business/21701/?a=f

KariK

11-21-2008, 08:13 AM

Seems like the OTEC technology would be in the same or even lower temperature difference range:
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20026836.000-plumbing-the-oceans-could-bring-limitless-clean-energy.html

"First, warm surface water heats a fluid with a low boiling point, such as ammonia or a mixture of ammonia and water. When this "working fluid" boils, the resulting gas creates enough pressure to drive a turbine that generates power. The gas is then cooled by passing it through cold water pumped up from the ocean depths via massive fibreglass tubes, perhaps 1000 metres long and 27 metres in diameter, that suck up cold water at a rate of 1000 tonnes per second. While the gas condenses back into a liquid that can be used again, the water is returned to the deep ocean. "It's just like a conventional power plant where you burn a fuel like coal to create steam," says Cohen.


GM-Volt: Chevy Volt Forum > Other > Politics, Finance, and Environment > Low Temperature Waste Heat Electric Generator PDA View Full Version : Low Temperature Waste Heat Electric Generator JoeReal 11-21-2008, 12:11 AM This could revolutionize the industry if true. Current Waste Heat generators only operate if waste heat is 150 deg C and above, but this new one, can extract energy if waste heat temperature is between 65 deg C to 150 deg C! Electricity from Waste Heat Ener-G-Rotors' system harvests energy at lower temperatures. By Jennifer Kho actories, data centers, power plants--even your clothes dryer--throw off waste heat that could be a useful source of energy. But most existing heat-harvesting technologies are efficient only at temperatures above 150 °C, and much waste heat just isn't that hot. Now Ener-G-Rotors, based in Schenectady, NY, is developing technology that can use heat between 65 and 150 °C. The company replaces the turbine in a typical electrical generator with a device called a gerotor, which it claims to have made "near frictionless." "If this works, it's so huge," says Bob Bechtold, president of Harbec Plastics, one of Ener-G-Rotors' potential customers. "I've been dreaming about the concept of using [low-temperature waste heat] ever since I first knew what it was about . . . It's all about using what we have more completely." Complete article: http://www.technologyreview.com/business/21701/?a=f KariK 11-21-2008, 08:13 AM Seems like the OTEC technology would be in the same or even lower temperature difference range: http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20026836.000-plumbing-the-oceans-could-bring-limitless-clean-energy.html "First, warm surface water heats a fluid with a low boiling point, such as ammonia or a mixture of ammonia and water. When this "working fluid" boils, the resulting gas creates enough pressure to drive a turbine that generates power. The gas is then cooled by passing it through cold water pumped up from the ocean depths via massive fibreglass tubes, perhaps 1000 metres long and 27 metres in diameter, that suck up cold water at a rate of 1000 tonnes per second. While the gas condenses back into a liquid that can be used again, the water is returned to the deep ocean. "It's just like a conventional power plant where you burn a fuel like coal to create steam," says Cohen.